7/13/2014 Focused Faith
1. Motivate
What situations tend to rattle you?
- illness
- death of close friend or loved one
- car wreck, physically you’re OK, but there’s a lot to deal with
- major damage to house (storm, fire, vandalism, etc.)
- family members not getting along
- kids having trouble in school (academics, bullying, discipline problems)
- too much happening at the same time
- in-laws coming for a visit
- a big responsibility or assignment coming due
2. Transition
There are plenty of things that can get us rattled or upset.
- But, we can find hope to help us overcome our worries and fears
- Today we look at how our faith is focused on a sure hope
3. Bible Study
3.1 The Source of Hope
Listen for a source of hope.
1 Peter 1:3-4 (NIV) Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, [4] and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade--kept in heaven for you,
According to Peter, what became available to the believers through the Lord Jesus Christ?
- new birth
- into a living hope
- an inheritance
What are some things people in our culture hope for?
- win the lottery
- their team wins
- their children pass the test they’ve studied (or not studied) for
- they get over the current illness
- they get that present for Christmas/birthday they’ve been wanting
- to find that special someone
Think about that list of things we hope for. On what do we base these kinds of hopefulness?
7/13/2014 Focused Faith
- good luck
- a skillful quarterback
- the weatherman
- personal effort
- a good doctor
7/13/2014 Focused Faith
How do these basing your hope on these kinds of things often disappoint?
- they had bad luck
- the quarterback got hurt
- the weatherman was wrong
- no matter how hard I try, I just cannot do it
- the doctor tried his best, our loved one still didn’t get well
Peter talks about a “living hope.” What do you think he meant by this phrase? How is it “living”?
- based on a living God
- based on Jesus who lived, died, and was raised again to life
- a hope that is not just a wish
- the object, the basis of the hope is a powerful, sovereign, and loving God who has demonstrated those qualities in the redemptive work of Jesus
What are words and phrases that Peter uses to describe our spiritual inheritance?
- can never perish
- will not spoil
- it will not fade
- it is kept in heaven for you
- it will be revealed in the last time
What actions on Jesus’ part makes hope possible?
- God’s mercy
- resurrection of Jesus from the dead
- we are given a “new birth” – as if our lives started all over with a new nature
- God changes our lives, we are a new creation
How do we demonstrate this living hope on a day to day basis?
- ready with a testimony of what God is doing in your life right now
- share how God is providing, even when times are tough
- focusing on God’s working in your life, not on the problems
- quick to thank God … in every situation
3.2 The Security of Hope
Listen for the reason for trials.
1 Peter 1:5-7 (NIV) who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. [6] In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. [7] These have come so that your faith--of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire--may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.
By what are believers shielded?
- God’s power
- through faith in God
What did Peter tell his readers about suffering?
- will be for a little while
- all kinds of trials
What kinds of trials do you imagine these folks had?
- persecution from Jews
- persecution from Romans
- normal problems of finances, health,
- ornery neighbors, in-laws, and outlaws
- kids growing up
- parents getting older
In what wrong ways can we react to these kinds and other troubles in our lives?
- complain, grumble
- respond in anger … even declare we are mad at God
- worry, lose sleep
- rebel
- drown sorrows in substance abuse (alcohol, drugs, food, chocolate, etc.)
According to Peter, why would trials come to his readers?
- your faith can be proved genuine
- it is worth more than gold and is refined, made pure
- it results in praise, glory, and honor to Jesus Christ
What are some examples of our faith being tested and strengthened because of a trial?
- God’s assurance in times of uncertainty
- God’s healing power
- God’s provision in time of need
- God’s protection in a dangerous situation
- courage in times of fear
What is the place of faith in our spiritual security during trials?
- you know God is powerful
- He has the authority to accomplish what needs to happen
- He is wise and knows just what to do, how to do it
- He loves us
- you know all these things are true
3.3 The Sincerity of Hope
Listen for what the “therefore” is there for.
1 Peter 1:8-9 (NIV) Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, [9] for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls. … 13 Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.
For what did Peter commend his readers?
- even though they had not seen the physical Jesus, the loved Him
- even though they did not see God physically now, they still believed in Him
- they demonstrated inexpressible and glorious joy
- they showed they were receiving the goal of their faith, the salvation of their souls
What were Peter’s readers able to do because of their believing?
- filled with inexpressible joy
- glorious joy
- receive the goal of their faith,
- salvation of their souls
How would clinging to this promise and perspective influence your outlook on daily living?
- you remember His love, His power when you face a problem
- you don’t grumble quite so quickly
- you look for God’s purpose
- you seek to learn the lesson God has for you in each bump in the road
- you remember to praise Him in the midst of, despite the problem
- the lessons of faith and hope better enable you for the next situation or for ministering to others going through similar problems
What practical instructions did Peter give his readers to prepare for the persecution to come?
- prepare your minds for action
- be self-controlled
- set your hope/faith on the grace/blessings to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed
So how do you think you should prepare your mind for action?
- fill your mind with God’s Truth
- memorize scripture
- meditate on what God says
- talk to God about how to apply what you read
- claim the Spiritual Armor for your mind … the helmet of salvation
- claim the rest of the Spiritual for the whole of your spiritual life … breastplate of righteousness, belt of Truth, shoes of the gospel, sword of the Spirit, shield of faith
4. Application
4.1 Display your hope
- Choose key phrases from our study today and write them down
- Attach the paper to your refrigerator
- Say these words of hope out loud each time you open the fridge
- Ask God to challenge you to live according to that hope
4.2 Journal your hope
- Spend at least 10 minutes each day reflecting on verses from this study or from your daily Bible reading
- Write down what God brings to your mind
4.3 Give hope
- You may have struggled through some of those things we listed at the beginning of the class
- Ask God to lead you to someone going through a similar situation
- Share with them the testimony of how Christ led you through those struggles and where you are today
5